Ang Pamamanhikan

Yesterday marked a very special occasion for Rolly and me. It was the day when his family formally met mine. Pamamanhikan – as how we Filipinos call it.

I woke up very early yesterday with a mixed feeling of excitement and anxiety. I was excited because I couldn’t wait for his parents to finally see where I come from, what my family’s like. I was anxious because I didn’t know what to expect. What were they and my parents gonna discuss? Would they agree or disagree on certain things? 

From the south end of Metro Manila, Rolly, with his parents and older brother, drove for 3 hours to San Miguel, Bulacan, the place where probinsyana Joycee grew up. All the restlessness that I was feeling disappeared the moment the family stepped out of the car, with my mom and dad eagerly welcoming them to our humble abode. And it wasn’t only my parents, practically all my titas who live in the same compound were there too. 

Rolly’s parents brought food, as is the tradition, and my mom also prepared some. Put together, ang dami naming pagkain! Parang may birthday lang! Haha. Everyone was introduced to each other, and the mood was all light and happy. As usual, Papa, Rolly’s dad, was very funny, cracking jokes here and there, na sinabayan naman ng daddy ko. Hehe. Masaya lang kaming lahat. :) 

L-R:  Me, Rolly, Daddy (mine), Papa (Rolly's), Mommy (Mine), Mama (Rolly's), Kuya Rolan (Rolly's brother)

After the big lunch and loads of kwentuhan, we headed to the living room, where Rolly’s mom mentioned about their “agenda.” I kind of panicked when I heard the word, coz I didn’t know what this agenda was besides them getting to know my entire family. And Rolly didn’t mention anything to me beforehand. The room went quiet for a millisecond. Hmm. Then my fiancé spoke, addressing mommy and daddy. 

“We know it’s going to happen in November, but we came here to seek for your blessing as I ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage. Hindi po sya uuwi sa inyo na umiiyak, because I promise that I will take care of her as you have.” 

Aaaaaaw, my heart melted! I didn’t expect that there was something like that anymore, because it was already understood that my family gave us their blessing the moment we started wedding planning. Yun pala, may ganito-ganito pa. Hahaha. Though I’ve known from the start that he’ll take care of me forever, I realized that it’s a different feeling when he’s saying it to your parents in front of you and his own parents. Nakaka-touch. I wanted to hug him right then and there, but this mushy-mushy feeling (mushy-mushy whaaat? Hehe) was interrupted when my mom gave her answer. Mommy said, “Thankful ako kay Lord na ikaw ang binigay nya sa anak ko.” She even told everyone there that even when we were still new, like we were only months into the relationship, I already told her that I had a feeling he’s the one. Hahaha, binuking pa ako ni mommy, nakakahiya. But it’s true. I knew he was the one. He was the one I asked God to give me.

The seriousness of the “agenda” was made light when the folks started talking about babies. My future father-in-law said that a month after the wedding, there should already be a baby in my tummy! Waaaah. Na-pressure naman ako! Bahala na si God. Whatever happens, we would be happy. :) 

April 15 ended with a smile on everyone’s face, but  Rolly and I were the happiest. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that our families approve of our union, and that we will have their support every step of the way. We’ve been blessed with very good parents, people whom we will try to be like as we build a family of our own. With their guidance, second to God’s, we’re sure we’ll be on the right track as we adjust into being husband and wife, and as parents too, sooner or later.

With the dads :)

With the moms :)

Got our parents' blessing! =D

Thank You Lord for this great Family Day Sunday! :)

P.S. Rolly's tweets yesterday. =D *kilig*  =P

Cheers,

My Marshmallow Test

I always thought that passing the Marshmallow Test was easy. Deferred gratification? C’mon, that’s a piece of cake. That was until I myself was given my own lip-smacking marshmallow which I cannot eat just yet. 

My marshmallow? The photos from our super fun engagement shoot last Monday! I’ve been trying so hard not to share any of them until at least 6 months prior to the big day, but here I am, on my way to becoming a flunker. Boo my self-control.

Game, iku-kwento ko na. =D

As shared in one of my previous posts, we wanted our prenup shoot to have three themes: “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” “Graceful Elegance,” and “Ready for Battle.”  Thanks to Nice Print, the plan was executed perfectly. Since my self-restraint is no better than a four-year old's, I am sharing a few photos per set here as I've convinced myself that these are only teasers anyway and the full set will be published as scheduled (Oo na, niloloko ko na ang sarili ko. Hahaha).

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL.

Playing with bubbles! :)

Cute, cute shades! :)

Pinwheel! :)

Sweet kiss! *shy*

GRACEFUL ELEGANCE.

I super love this beautiful wall! :)

Effort mag-pose nang walang teeth! =P

At the wine cellar

My eyes are unusually round here. =D

READY FOR BATTLE.

We wore fatigue shorts and Chucks. :)

Feeling like a sharp shooter. =P

Kunyari sexy =P

Trying to look astig! =D

Yaaaaaay!  Ang saya-saya! :) I'll be publishing the rest of the shortlisted shots on facebook when the right time comes.  For now, I'm satisfied sharing these. :)  Thanks so much to the very talented Kenneth M. of Nice Print Photography for the shots which exceeded my expectations! Thanks, too, to Mayone Bakunawa for the airbrush makeup which lasted until after the photo session! :)

Cheers,

He's Alive!!!

Courtesy of http://freakinominalblog.blogspot.com

Matthew 28:1-10

Jesus Has Risen 

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them,“Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

***********

Happy Easter, everyone! :)


Cheers,

via "Gr8 Ppl, Gr8 Thoughts" on facebook

Stumbled upon this on my FB newsfeed, and I can't help but re-post for I strongly believe in what it says.  The desire for recognition is a sign of pride, of vanity... one of the seven deadly sins which most of us are guilty of. We're humans, we naturally yearn for approval, for praises, and for even a simple tap on the back saying that we're doing well.  But if this yearning turns into hunger, if the desire for esteem is what keeps us going, then that's when it becomes dangerous.

Sometimes, when I feel a longing to be appreciated, I try to remember a line I read from Tuesdays with Morrie.  It says,

“...if you're trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. 

They will look down on you anyhow. 

And if you're trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. 

They will only envy you. 

Status will get you nowhere. 

Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone.”

:)

Or of the above lines won't suffice, these Bible verses are very helpful too.

Proverbs 31:30

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Psalm 119:37

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Matthew 6:1-7 

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ...

See? There's really no good in showing off. :)  We'll just tire ourselves out. *wink*

Xoxo,